Car Travel In Europe: Is It Necessary?

You will arrive in Europe by plane or by ship, but once you arrive, you have to decide between car travel in Europe or using public transportation. The answer to this is not as obvious as it would be in the United States, as many European cities provide excellent public transportation and the Eurorail offers an easy and efficient way of traveling across the continent. As you consider whether or not to rent a car, there are a few factors to consider.

Which Side Of The Road?

You should definitely make note of what side of the road the residents of your destination country drive on. It is not easy to retrain yourself to drive on the left side of the road when you have learned for years to drive on the right. If this is an issue, car travel in Europe may not be as safe as choosing to use public transportation.

Do You Need Transportation?

If you are spending the bulk of your vacation in one particular place, you may find that you need no transportation at all. Many European cities are primarily pedestrian, and you will find that walking from place to place makes more sense, and helps you see and enjoy more of the city's sights, sounds, and culture. In this case, car travel in Europe would be unnecessary and might actually impede your overall enjoyment of your trip.

Is It More Economical?

The Eurorail is an economical and convenient way to travel through Europe, but it does not go everywhere. Once you have planned out your trip and you know where you will be going each day, you will be able to look at the Eurorail schedules and figure out if you can take this mode to your various destinations. A car rental may be appropriate for certain day trips, and in fact, if you plan your car travel in Europe for a couple of consecutive days, you can save money by turning in the car early in the trip.

Do You Enjoy Driving?

This is your vacation, and there are many ways to travel from place to place in Europe, including the Eurorail, trains, subways, cabs, and on foot or bicycle. If you love to drive and have always wanted to drive on European roads, then perhaps renting a car is a great idea. On the other hand, car travel in Europe is by and large unnecessary and using public modes of transportation can get you where you need to go.